Gautam Sen
NationalityIndian
Alma materCalcutta Boys’ School, Calcutta
Presidency College, Calcutta
XLRI, Jamshedpur
Occupation(s)Writer, Journalism, Consultancy
Notable credit(s)Founder Editor of India's first automobile magazine,
Vice President at FIVA
Websitewww.gautamsen.com

Gautam Sen is an Indian journalist, writer and automotive design consultant and expert. He is also the Vice President External Relations at Fédération Internationale de Véhicules Anciens FIVA, the international federation for historic vehicles. Sen founded India's first newsstand car magazine Indian Auto in 1986.[1] Subsequently, he also launched Auto India[2] in 1993, followed by the Indian editions of auto motor and sport and BBC's TopGear magazine.[3] Directly involved with the automobile industry in India and Europe, Sen has worked with eminent designers such as Gerard Godfroy, Tom Tjaarda and Marcello Gandini. Since 2010 Sen has also published several critically acclaimed books on automobiles.[4][5][6]

Early life and education

A graduate in economics from Presidency College, Calcutta, Sen has a Master's in Business Administration, from the XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Career

First job

Gautam Sen joined the marketing department of Maruti Udyog Limited in 1984, leaving the carmaker in 1986.

Journalism

Sen joined Business Press Pvt Ltd in 1986 to start India's first newsstand automobile magazine, The Indian Auto Journal,[1] which was launched in September 1986. In 1993, the Business India Group launched the magazine Auto India,[7] with Gautam Sen as the magazine's Editor.[8] In 1996, Gautam Sen moved to Paris, to manage the San Storm sports car project.

Sen joined Motorpresse Stuttgart in 2000, to launch the Indian edition of the German automotive magazine auto motor und sport in 2001.[9]

Joining Worldwide Wide Media [3] (a BBC-Times of India joint venture), in May 2005, Sen was the founder-Editor of the Indian edition of BBC's TopGear magazine.[10] Sen joined back the Business India Group in September 2007, to take over the running of Auto India magazine once again.

Consultancy

Sen has also consulted with several Indian and European automobile manufacturers, such as Hero Motors, TVS-Suzuki Ltd, Ideal Jawa, Hindustan Motors, DLC Automotives, San Motors and Tata Motors. Sen managed the development of India's first sports car, the San Storm.[11] He has also worked with several leading automobile designers: Gerard Godfroy, Tom Tjaarda and Marcello Gandini.

Other activities

Sen is a vice president with the Fédération Internationale de Véhicules Anciens (FIVA), as well as a jury member of Le Mans Classic,[12] Chantilly Arts & Elegance,[13] the YanQi Island Concours d’Elegance[14] and the Rally International du Pays de Fougères.

Honours and awards

Sen won the "Book of the Year" award in 2017 at the Festival Automobile International, in Paris,[15][16] in January 2017 and Best Automotive Biography of the Year by Auto Bild Motorworld Buchpreiss for his work Marcello Gandini: Maestro of Design. In 2020, Sen, along with his co-author Daniel Cabart, won the Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot Award from the Society of Automotive Historians Book for the book Ballot.

Books

  • Joyaux automobiles des Maharadjahs: a book on the automobiles acquired and retained by the erstwhile princely families of India. Published by E.T.A.I., France, 2010. ISBN 978-2-7268-8998-5.
  • The Maharajas & Their Magnificent Motor Cars: the English edition of the book on the automobiles of the erstwhile princely families of India. Published by Haynes Publishing, UK, 2011. ISBN 978-0-85733-063-5.
  • The Car Design Book: A history of automotive design, as well as on designers and some of the best automotive designs. Published by The Business India Group, 2011.
  • Die Traumgaragen der Maharadschas: The German edition of the book on the automobiles of the maharajas. Published by Heel, 2012.ISBN 978-3-86852-676-9.
  • Rolls-Royce 17EX A Fabulous Destiny ein Stuck Geschichte: The story of Rolls-Royce's most remarkable experimental car, in India and elsewhere, a tale of a special car, special people, of spectacular countries across continents and of over eight decades of automotive history. Published by Senthesis Eurl.
  • A Million Cars for a Billion People: A perspective of the people's car movement and initiatives in India and the history of the Indian automobile industry. Published by Platinum Press. ISBN 978-9-35201-353-1 .
  • Marcello Gandini: Maestro of Design: An autography on one of the greatest automotive designer ever. . Published by Dalton Watson Fine Books. ISBN 978-1-85443-280-3.
  • The 101 Automotive Jewels of India A journey of discovery, of the most unusual, exciting and best preserved automobiles in India.. . Published by Heritage Publishers, New Delhi, India. ISBN 978-81-7026-392-0.
  • The Bertone Collection Some of the important concept cars, as well as the emblematic production models from the Bertone design studio . Published by Dalton Watson Fine Books. ISBN 978-1-85-443293-3.
  • Ballot A two volume history of one of the greatest of automotive marques ever that time has forgotten. Published by Dalton Watson Fine Books. ISBN 978-1-85-4433039.

Sen has also contributed to or co-authored the following books: The Story of the Star in India, The Royal Udaipur RR GLK 21, The Golden Quadrilateral and Fast Forward.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Mirajker Design> Highlights> Articles> Indian Auto Journal :: June 1989". www.mirajkerdesign.com.
  2. ↑ Kurczewski, Nick. "Classic Car Encounters in India".
  3. 1 2 "Times Group to launch BBC auto magazine Top Gear soon, Gautam Sen roped in as Editor".
  4. ↑ Launch of Gautam Sen’s book "The Maharajas & Their Magnificent Motor Cars": https://in.ambafrance.org/Launch-of-Gautam-Sen-s-book-The,7019
  5. ↑ "Marcello Gandini: Maestro of Design by Gautam Sen". Dalton Watson Fine Books.
  6. ↑ Gautam Sen launched Car Design Book: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/96094-gautam-sen-launches-car-design-book.html
  7. ↑ "The Business India Group :: About Auto India". www.businessindiagroup.com.
  8. ↑ "Foreign Car Makers Make Drive for India's Middle Class". 17 September 1994. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ↑ "Surviving car crashes".
  10. ↑ "Kinetic Blaze wins Top Gear award".
  11. ↑ "638: Gautam Sen is acknowledges as India's leading automotive journalist and writer".
  12. ↑ "Latest News". www.fbhvc.co.uk.
  13. ↑ Chantilly Arts & Elegance, jury member: http://www.chantillyartsetelegance.com/wp-content/uploads/Sen-2017.pdf
  14. ↑ "YanQi Island Concours d'Elegance… – Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA)". www.fiva.org.
  15. ↑ "32nd awarding ceremony – FESTIVAL AUTOMOBILE INTERNATIONAL".
  16. ↑ "Marcello Gandini: Maestro of Design, Book by Gautam Sen wins Grand Prix for the Most Beautiful Book of the Year. – Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA)". www.fiva.org.
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